posted there, and
went down the steps at my usual gait. In the same way, while in the
prison, many people were round about, and in the public place where
one goes out of the prison were many more; but I passed through the
midst of them all to the college of Sancto Thomas. Next day I went
thence to [the convent of] St. Dominic, which is on the other side
of the wall, where I remain a refugee. [30] The convent is quite
far from the prison, and no man spoke to me at all; on the contrary,
those in the square accompanied me. Afterward the soldiers and guard
(whom God was pleased to stop, I know not how) must have returned to
their senses; and they came after me, when I was already near the
church. Ascertaining what had happened, some went to the church,
and the governor arrested others. He, as I have been told, ordered
all the camp of soldiers called to arms, as if it were for the Dutch,
with the intention, it is said, of taking me out by force, even if
he should destroy the college. However, he restrained himself to
sending two companies. It is even said, further, that all that day
and night they surrounded the college, under orders not to allow
entrance or exit to friar or anyone else, or the entrance of food,
until the archbishop, at the instance of the friars, persuaded the
governor to withdraw the soldiers. I consider as a miracle also what
happened with him. Since I have been in [the convent of] St. Dominic,
I have heard from several persons that the governor was quietly trying
to have me killed by a certain agreement, which would have been very
easy for him had not God prevented it. However, although that is
not very well known, nor do I believe it all, yet it could be feared
from him, and from his great desire to be free from my witnessing his
acts on occasions of defending the justice and service of my king,
since he could not reduce me to take a path contrary thereto. For that
reason, I have tried with peculiar care to have God's zealous servants
commend him to God, and petition Him for the governor's reformation
and prudent action, so that he may not fall into the deeper abyss of
miseries. Then the governor ordered my property to be sequestered,
and they went to my house and took an inventory of all my books and
the other treasures that I possessed, even to the very clothes of my
wife, and my salaries--just as if I were a private citizen and not next
[in authority] to your Majesty and the royal council, as I am; a